This Vegan Chocolate Buttercream is divine! To make this buttercream, you combine vegan butter with velvety chocolate pudding until smooth and creamy. The result is a rich and indulgent frosting with a luscious chocolate flavor.
This vegan chocolate buttercream is great for several reasons. Firstly, it is entirely plant-based, making it suitable for vegans and those with dairy allergies or dietary restrictions.
Secondly, its smooth and velvety texture makes it perfect for spreading or piping onto cakes, cupcakes, or other desserts. And thirdly, the combination of chocolate pudding and vegan butter creates a divine taste that pairs well with a variety of cake flavors, such as our chocolate orange cake, and vegan vanilla cake.
This vegan buttercream is versatile and can be used for various occasions, whether it's part of a birthday celebration, Mother's Day treat, or any special gathering where a decadent chocolate frosting is desired. You will love this one!
📋 Ingredients
To make vegan chocolate buttercream you need the following ingredients:
- Chocolate pudding powder (cook & serve)
- Oat milk
- Vegan butter, at room temperature
- Powdered sugar
- Salt
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏽🍳 How To Make Vegan Chocolate Buttercream
Let's chat about how to make the best vegan chocolate buttercream! Follow our step-by-step guide:
Prepare a pudding using the pudding powder, and oat milk. Pour the pudding into a bowl and let it cool to room temperature. Stir occasionally during cooling or cover with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming.
Place the softened butter, which must be at same temperature like the pudding, into a bowl. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the butter, salt and powdered sugar until very light and fluffy for a few minutes.
Gradually mix in the pudding, spoonful by spoonful, until it forms a homogeneous cream.
Use buttercream as desired: Either decorate or fill a cake or cupcakes directly with the buttercream using a spatula, or briefly chill the buttercream beforehand to firm it up slightly.
This buttercream recipe is foolproof as long as both the pudding and butter are both at room temperature. If the buttercream happens to curdle, simply gently warm it in a hot water bath, stir until smooth, and chill it briefly again. Adding more powdered sugar to smooth it out can help too.
Tip: Use ingredients such as baking cocoa, or spices like cinnamon and tonka bean, chopped nuts, coffee or liqueur extract to enhance and play with its flavor.
🍴 Substitutions
Are you looking for substitutions or quicker alternatives? We got you!
- Pudding Powder - If you don't have the specific flavor of pudding powder mentioned in the recipe, don't worry! You can experiment with other flavors like strawberry, caramel, or even butterscotch. Just make sure to choose an instant pudding powder that you enjoy. Pro tip: Opt for high-quality options with real vanilla or extra chocolatey goodness!
- Oat milk - If you're not a fan of oat milk or simply don't have it on hand, feel free to swap it with any non-dairy milk of your choice. Almond milk or coconut milk are all great alternatives. Just make sure the pudding powder is compatible with the specific kind you are using!
Remember, substitutions will bring their own unique flavors and textures to the cookies! Enjoy exploring different variations and discovering your favorite twist on our vegan chocolate buttercream.
🍫 Variations
There are many delicious flavor variations to explore with this buttercream recipe! Here are a few ideas to play around with to zing up the flavor:
- More Chocolate: If you're a chocoholic, why not intensify the chocolate flavor? Add a tablespoon or two of high-quality cocoa powder or melted dark chocolate to the buttercream.
- Citrus Zest: For a refreshing twist, try adding the zest of an orange, lemon, or lime to the buttercream. The bright citrus notes will add a burst of tanginess and make your cakes or cupcakes extra zesty.
- Coffee or Espresso: Give your buttercream a pick-me-up by incorporating a teaspoon or two of instant coffee granules or espresso powder. This will infuse it with a rich and aromatic coffee flavor that pairs wonderfully with chocolate or vanilla cakes.
- Nuts: For nut lovers, finely chop your favorite nuts, such as toasted almonds, hazelnuts, or pistachios, and fold them into the buttercream. The added crunch and nuttiness will bring a delightful texture and flavor to your desserts.
- Spices: Spice things up by adding a pinch of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to the buttercream. These cozy flavors work exceptionally well with fall-inspired cakes or holiday treats.
- Mint: Add a drop or two of pure peppermint extract or finely chopped fresh mint leaves to the buttercream for a cool and refreshing flavor. Perfect for pairing with chocolate cakes or as a refreshing filling.
Feel free to mix and match these flavor variations and play with the recipe. Experimenting with different ingredients and flavors is part of the fun of baking! If you end up whipping up a fantastic variation of this recipe, don't forget to drop a comment at the bottom of the blog post! I'm all ears and absolutely thrilled to hear about your baking adventures.
🍽 Equipment
To make this divine vegan chocolate buttercream, you'll need a few baking essentials. Here's a description of each item and why it's necessary!
A sturdy mixing bowl is a must-have for combining the ingredients. Choose one that is deep enough to prevent splatters and allows ample space for whisking and mixing.
A hand mixer or stand mixer is not only a game-changer when it comes to achieving a light and fluffy buttercream, but definitely needed! It saves you time and effort by quickly and efficiently whipping the ingredients together. It ensures a smooth and creamy texture.
If using a stand mixer, make sure you have a whisk or paddle attachment. If using a hand mixer, a regular whisk will do the trick. The whisk helps aerate the buttercream and incorporate air, resulting in a lighter and fluffier texture.
A good spatula is helpful for scraping down the sides of the bowl and ensuring all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Accurate measurements are crucial in baking. Using a scale allows you to measure the ingredients precisely, ensuring the right balance of flavors and consistency in your buttercream.
If you plan to pipe the buttercream onto cupcakes or cakes, having piping bags and tips will give you more control and precision in creating decorative designs. They allow you to beautifully garnish your treats with buttercream.
A reusable bowl cover or plastic wrap is handy for covering the pudding while it cools to prevent skin from forming. It ensures the pudding stays smooth and ready to be incorporated into the buttercream.
These baking items are essential for making this buttercream efficiently and achieving the desired texture and consistency.
🥣 How To Store Vegan Chocolate Buttercream?
To store vegan chocolate buttercream, follow these guidelines:
- Refrigeration: Place the buttercream in an airtight container or cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Then, store it in the fridge. The cold temperature will help maintain its freshness and prevent spoilage.
The buttercream can be stored in the fridge for up to 5-7 days. Beyond that, its texture and flavor may start to deteriorate. If you need to store it for a longer period, consider freezing it.
- Freezing: If you want to store the buttercream for an extended period, you can freeze it. Transfer the buttercream to a freezer-safe container or bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
- Thawing: When you're ready to use the frozen buttercream, transfer it to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight. Once thawed, bring it to room temperature and give it a good whisk to restore its smooth and creamy consistency before using.
Remember to label the container with the date of preparation to keep track of its freshness. Proper storage will help maintain the flavor and texture of the buttercream, ensuring it remains delicious and ready to use whenever you need it.
💭 Recipe FAQ
If you desire a thicker consistency for the buttercream, you can add more powdered sugar gradually until the desired thickness is achieved. Alternatively, chilling the buttercream in the refrigerator for a short time can also help firm it up.
If your chocolate buttercream curdles, there are a few steps you can take to try to salvage it.
Keep mixing: Sometimes, curdled buttercream can be brought back together by continued mixing. Increase the speed of your mixer and beat the mixture for a few minutes to see if it comes together and smooths out.
Warm it up: Place the curdled buttercream in a heatproof bowl and set it over a pot of simmering water (double boiler method). Gently heat the mixture while whisking continuously until the curdled parts melt and blend with the rest of the buttercream. Be careful not to overheat it or let the mixture get too hot, as this can cause the butter to melt completely and ruin the texture.
Add powdered sugar: If warming the buttercream doesn't work, you can try adding more powdered sugar. Start with a tablespoon at a time, sieve and mix thoroughly after each addition until the mixture smooths out. The powdered sugar can help combine and re-emulsify the curdled ingredients.
Start over: In some cases, the curdling may be too severe, and it may be best to start over with fresh ingredients. It's unfortunate, but sometimes it's the only solution.
One of the most common reasons why your buttercream curdled is difference in the ingredients temperature. Make sure both pudding and butter have the same temperature when combining.
More Vegan Desserts
📖 Recipe
Vegan Chocolate Buttercream
Equipment
- electric mixer (hand or stand mixer)
- whisk or paddle attachment
- piping bags and tips (optional, for decorating)
- reusable bowl cover or plastic wrap
Ingredients
- 43 grams cook & serve chocolate pudding powder (amount equals one package from Dr. Oetker)
- 400 milliliters oat milk
- 250 grams vegan butter at room temprature
- 50 grams powdered sugar (more for a sweeter taste, if desired)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the pudding using the pudding powder, and milk. You only need 400 ml of milk, which is less than what the instructions on the package states.
- Once cooked, pour the pudding into a bowl and let it cool to room temperature. Stir occasionally during cooling or cover with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming.
- Place the room-temperature butter, into a bowl. Make sure the pudding and butter are at the same temperature! This is crucial so the butter does not curdle. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter, salt, and sieved powdered sugar until very light and fluffy for a few minutes. Gradually mix in the pudding, spoon by spoon, until it forms a homogeneous cream.
- Either decorate or fill your treat directly with the buttercream or chill the buttercream to firm it up slightly.
Notes
Nutrition
The provided nutritional information is an estimate. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
For food safety see guidelines at USDA.gov.
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